CHURCHILL, Sir Winston Spencer (1874-1965).
Very early Autograph Letter Signed to his nanny, Mrs Elizabeth Everest ('Darling old Woom'), 4 pages 8vo (dust-stained and a little worn), Harrow, no date [?September 1891]. A very rare survival of a letter from the boy Winston to the woman who was then, and remained even after her death, one of the greatest influences on his character.
Of this important correspondence, some forty-one letters from Mrs Everest to Winston are known, but only five of his own (all of the known letters are in the Churchill Archive, Cambridge). The present letter, previously unknown and unpublished, is probably the longest. The date of September 1891, when Churchill was 16, is suggested by the survival of a letter to his brother, Jack, dated 27 September in which he says that he will be writing to 'Woom', and a letter from her to Winston, probably on 28 September answering the points he raises.
Asking Mrs Everest to do various things for him, describing his room as 'very pretty', and outlining his plans to make it even better, asking her to tell Edney (his father's butler) to send a borrowed overcoat to Sherwoods, asking for two postal orders, and enquiring about her health.

'... My room is very pretty. I have plenty of pictures, silks, etc to make it so. It is so nice to have a room absolutely your own ... I want you to send me the 2 Postal Orders you have of mine and I intend to send the glasses to be mended.
 I have got my Blue Lapis Pin here; also the case of the Pink Pearl but no pin. ...'

In her letter, probably of 28 September 1891, Mrs Everest begins by thanking Winston for his letter, and adds that she was 'very glad ... to hear you are settling down so comfortably at school once more & fancy having a room all to your self', and adds that 'I am very much distressed about your 2 postal orders. I put them in one of the little drawers of the looking glass in your little room I think but I remember saying to you I have put the P. orders in this drawer & I never thought of them from that till this'.
For the influence of Mrs Everest see (among others) Randolph S. Churchill, Winston S. Churchill, 1966, Vol 1, page 35:

'Mrs Everest, who until her death in 1894, when Winston was twenty, was destined to be the principal confidante of his joys, his troubles, and his hopes. It was not until after the death of Mrs Everest and of Lord Randolph that there opened that period of warm-hearted eager companionship between mother and son which was to prove so valuable to both, Many touching examples survive of the devotion of this faithful servant to her young charge and of his life-long gratitude to her.
Mrs Everest was not only the friend and companion of his youth, schooldays and early manhood; she remained warmly cherished in his memory throughout his life. ...'

[No: 21741]